To put it simply, this book had me feeling all kinds of ways at different points throughout, but overall, I’m glad I read it.

I’ll start with the things I liked first.

Just right off the bat, I think the premise — taking what might be a relatively mundane and common thing (dating advice) and applying it to uncommon/fantastical circumstances (aka a “Dark Lord”) — is fun, and alluring. And generally speaking, stories set from what would traditionally be considered the villain’s point of view, are right in my wheelhouse. For instance, I loved John Scalzi’s Starter Villain, and books like Django Wexler’s How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying or graphic novels like Brandon Sanderson’s Dark One have been burning a hole in my TBR for quite some time (I will get there! I will!).

So we’re off to a good start there, and the actual writing itself keeps the good things coming. This is my first Tiffany Hunt read, and I’d say Dark Lord’s Guide to Dating (and Other War Crimes) definitely recommends her as an author. This book is well crafted with prose that are easy (and fun) to read. A huge part of this book is what we SEE, whether it be shadows casually wisping around the male lead’s body, or the ominous loom of his fortress over an otherwise idyllic landscape. Oh and of course all the once-overs and caught stares (and ya know . . . casual nakedness).

There’s a lot to describe, and many opportunities for (I would think) bungled metaphors, purple prose or even just crude language; however, Hunt never seems to hit a bad note. Her writing is clear, unapologetic, and economical (also well edited, even really famous authors have a spelling error or two in their works these days, but thinking back I don’t think remember encountering even one!). Just generally smooth, and delightful to read.

I also really enjoyed the alternating perspectives between Arabella and the titular Dark Lord, Kazimir. I’m not exactly new to Romantasy (or Romance in general), however I wouldn’t say I have as deep a knowledge of it as some other genres I read, so I’m not really that aware of whether or not this is a common structure (as it definitely IS say for just regular High Fantasy), but I felt like it was really critical here, as it allowed the reader to really see how each character grows and develops.

And this is probably the part that is most well done about Dark Lord’s Guide To Dating. In many ways, this story is essentially Beauty and the Beast, with the heroine trapped in the monster’s lair, only to fall for said “monster” in the end. In B&B, it’s The Beast who really has the noticeable change arc, becoming more refined in order to woo Belle, and by the end of the story, literally changing shape and regaining his humanity.

Kazimir and Arabella both need to change in order to make this romance work, with Kaz becoming slightly more heroic and “good” as the story progresses, and Arabella giving up some of her naivete and becoming more “evil” by the end.

For me, where the story ran aground a bit, is in its variety and worldbuilding. Based on some of the little references and allusions dropped here and there, it’s clear that Hunt has a good knowledge of traditional Fantasy, and Romantasy more specifically. The powerful artifact they are attempting to (ahem) turn on throughout the story is a circlet, and a pretty clear homage to Lord of the Rings, as I would assume is Kazimir’s whole vibe and position as a “Dark Lord”. There’s a quip early on in the book about not being able to distinguish which princess named Violet is which, which I’m assuming is a nod to Fourth Wing and its legion of imitators.

And while all this reference and allusion to other works of Fantasy and Romantasy is fun, I was still hoping for some little scrap of worldbuilding that would make THIS world memorable for its own sake. Perhaps the closest I came was with some in-world folklore about magical roses (ayy speaking of Beauty and the Beast). I was kind of fascinated by this, but unfortunately I don’t think it went deep enough.

In terms of the variety (or lack thereof) I mentioned earlier, this book has A LOT of training sequences, which I get. These can be great scenes for building a relationship between the lovers. And it gives them an excuse to fight, quip, challenge each other and grow. It also gets them moving, and probably more importantly, sweating (ow ow lol). And it teaches the reader how the world’s magic system works.

But it also isolates them from the rest of said world, feeding into the problem I just described. A big part of Fantasy (for me) is the awe experienced while reading it. Of visiting new places, and experiencing things that push the limits of imagination. I think these training sequences may have actually been alright, if they hadn’t all (more-or-less) taken place in the same darkly lit dungeon.

As a bit of an added aside, not really a positive or negative critique of this book but just something that sort of enhanced my experience, I stumbled across this Youtube video while reading: Why Are Male Characters All Written Like This Now?. Toldbyreem also posted an earlier video about what she thinks is the more idyllic male hero: What Makes Mr. Darcy The Perfect Romantic Hero?

When watching the criticism video, I felt like many of her complaints described Kazimir pretty well, however, then I watched the second video which painted a more elevated version of the romantic hero, I thought Kaz fit these criteria as well. I’m not sure what to make of this . . .

The last thing I’ll mention in my review is the spice. Of the Romance and Romantasy books I’ve read so far, this one is probably the horniest. And mostly, I think it works. I don’t think it’s much of a spoiler to say that one of the scenes takes place in a library, and those poor books got a show they did not ask or pay for (not in front of the books!). Also, it never occurred to me before how close “shadow magic during sex” is to . . . well tentacles really.

But hey, love as thou wilt . . .

Give “Dark Lord’s Guide To Dating” a Read?

Yea! As you can see by just the length of this review, there is a lot to unpack within Dark Lord’s Guide to Dating which . . . is honestly why we do it.

Personally, I enjoyed Hunt’s easy prose, and the allure of the book’s initial conceit, but where I thought the book really shined was with its two lead characters, and the growth we could see between each of the two perspectives. Where I thought the book struggled was in its worldbuilding and variety of scenes. I wanted to see more of Kaz and Arabella’s world, to dig deeper and discover what really separates it from the legion of other similar settings.

That’s all I have for this one! I’m curious if anyone else has read this already? What did you think? Was it too spicy? Or just right? What Romance, Fantasy, or Romantasy tropes are you tired of? Who’s your perfect leading man?

Leave your thoughts in the comments. Looking forward to talking about this one!